THE BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. 



167 



No. 68. 



BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. 



A. O. U. Xo. 596. Zamelodia melanocephala (Swains). 



Description. — Adult male: ('iC'iH-ral culoratiun black and tawny varied with 

 white and \ellow ; head glossy hlack, narrowly on chin, and with irregular 

 invasion of tawny behind ; back, scapulars, wings, and tail chiefly black ; middle 

 of back with much admixture of tawny; scapulars narrowly tipped with yellowish 

 huffy or wdiite, two conspicuous white wing patches formed by tips of middle 

 coverts and basal portion of primaries ; touches of white on tips of greater coverts 

 and secondaries, and on outer edge of primaries ; touches of yellow ( in highest 

 plumage) bordering white of wing-coverts, etc. ; terminal third of two outer pairs 

 of rectrices white on inner webs ; lining of wings and breast centrally rich lemon 

 yellow : remaining plumage tawny, brightest on throat and chest, with admixture 

 of black on sides of neck; nearly as bright on rump, but veiled by lighter tips of 



TaK'cn in Oregon. 



Photo by I'lnU'y Ltnd Bolilman. 



ANTICIPATION. 



feathers ; lightening posteriorly on remaining underparts ; nearly white on under 

 tail-coverts; bill bluish gray, darker above; feet plumbeous. Adult female: Like 

 male, but tawny of underparts paler; u|iperparts dark olivaceous brown with 

 admixture of white and pale tawnv ; head blackish with white or brownish 

 median and superciliary stripes; wings and tail fuscous, white markings restricted, 

 those on tail reduced or wanting; sides and flanks streaked with dusky. Length 

 7.75-8.50 ( 196.85-215.90) ; wing 3.9 (99) ; tail 3.15 (80) ; bill .71 (18) ; depth of 

 bill at base .59 ( 15) ; tarsus .95 (24). 



Recognition Marks. — Chewink size; black head and variegated plumage of 

 male ; large beak, with haunts, distinctive. 



Nesting. — A^est: a careless but often bulky collection of twigs or weed- 



